THE Complete Keys to Progress


John McCallum - 1993
    Here they are: the full collection of the original John McCallum articles, classic gems. If you were to only buy one book - ever - on how to train, this is it. 288 pp.

The New High Intensity Training: The Best Muscle-Building System You've Never Tried


Ellington Darden - 2004
    It was Jones, the inventor of Nautilus exercise equipment, who first discovered that short, intense workouts could produce better results than the long, high-volume workouts then in vogue.Even though research into Jones's methods has proved them correct, a number of high-profile strength coaches use HIT to train their athletes, and the bodybuilding magazine Ironman does HIT-based features every issue, there still are no major HIT books in stores. This new book-by champion bodybuilder, exercise researcher, and best-selling author Ellington Darden, who is a Jones disciple and friend-shows lifters how to apply the master's teachings, along with some new HIT concepts to achieve extraordinary results.At the heart of the book is a complete, illustrated, six-month course for explosive growth. Exercise by exercise, workout by workout, the reader is shown precisely what to do, and perhaps even more important, what not to do. Charging that too many bodybuilders follow a more-is-better approach-too many exercises, too many sets, and too much frequency-and rely on steroids to compensate for depleted recovery ability, Darden shows why HIT, steroid-free and healthy, is the best way to safely build muscle. Finally, the exercise religion Arthur Jones founded, and Darden fine-tuned, has its bible.

Serious Strength Training


Tudor O. Bompa - 1998
    The new edition of Serious Strength Training presents-scientifically based guidelines for periodization workouts,-new information on incorporating popular bodybuilding systems into the periodization plan,-80 exercises that cause the greatest stimulation in the muscles,-a nutrition periodization program that explains how to meet the body's changing dietary needs during each phase of training.Serious Strength Training begins by outlining the basic scientific principles of training for strength and muscle mass--what happens to the body during training and why. Then it sets detailed guidelines for program design, explaining how to calculate training volume, intensity, rest intervals, number of exercises, and loading patterns. Lead author Tudor Bompa demonstrates how to use periodized workouts to peak at optimal times by manipulating six different training phases: anatomical adaptation, hypertrophy, mixed, maximum strength, muscle definition, and transition.This edition also presents a revolutionary metabolically based approach--created by Maura Di Pasquale, an internationally renowned physician--that allows readers to structure their diets to meet their individual metabolic profiles.Serious Strength Training includes programs for strength trainers and bodybuilders as well as for those with special needs and interests. Scientifically sound and research-based, it's also ideal for strength and conditioning experts and exercise scientists who want to know the best methods for developing greater muscle power and mass.

Pumping Iron


Charles Gaines - 1974
    America, Mr. Universe, Mr. Olympia) as their gargantuan physique; whose daily lives are as rigidly defined and regulated by their obsession to mold the ideal body ... only their fellow muscle men know who they are and know the price they have paid to win their incredible bodies. Novelist Charles Gaines and photographer George Butler have spent the last two years trying to capture the essence of this strange, joyful, exotic world.

Hard Style Abs: Hit Hard. Lift Heavy. Look the Part


Pavel Tsatsouline - 2012
    But not simply to swivel heads with your rippling six-pack. For, according to Pavel, your abs should be simultaneously weapon, armor and force generator. The six-pack is just a side effect of the coiled power with which you now operate. Hardstyle Abs will give you impenetrable body armor-to withstand a direct hit of the greatest magnitude. Hardstyle Abs will give you the generative force to retaliate with a devastating backlash. And Hardstyle Abs will help you lift more weight than ever before-more safely. After years of dedicated research and experimentation, Pavel has identified three killer drills, as all you need to achieve this level of mid-section mastery. Follow Pavel's battle plan to the T and the results are guaranteed-noticeable within weeks, extraordinary within months. Pavel provides the laser focus. You? Simply obey the commands. The highlights of Pavel's HardStyle Abs program: Why high reps have failed you-and the secret sauce that will have your abs tuned for heavy action all day long and at a moment's notice. Hardstyle breathing-for explosive power and a bullet-proof waist. The Hardstyle Sit-up-to generate an unbelievable contraction for superior results. Internal Isometrics-the lost secret behind the old-time physical culturalists' exceptional abdominal strength and development. The Hardstyle Hanging Leg Raise-the final weapon you must master to channel the power of your every muscle into one devastating surge. My good friend Pavel is the functionally strongest pound for pound man I have ever measured and studied. This validates his approaches-they are not polluted by current trend, political correctness, financial gain or ego. Listen to his wisdom and you will be stronger and wiser. I did, and I am. -Professor Stuart McGill, author of Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance

The Art of Lifting


Greg Nuckols - 2015
    

Never Let Go: A Philosophy of Lifting, Living and Learning


Dan John - 2009
    Dan John breaks down the most complicated concepts of strength training and high-performance athletics in his personal, no-nonsense, thought-provoking and motivating style.

The Greyskull LP


John Sheaffer - 2012
    Quite simply the most flexible, and user friendly system for anyone interested in building strength and muscle. This book explains in detail the principles of Johnny Pain's famed Greyskull LP method used in the construction of hundreds of beasts around the globe. Cut through the dogmatic B.S. that pollutes the internet, and produce the outcomes that you desire from your training efforts.A must have for anyone serious about getting strong.

The Year One Challenge for Men: Bigger, Leaner, and Stronger Than Ever in 12 Months (Muscle for Life Series)


Michael Matthews - 2015
    Will YOU be next? What if you could build that hot “Hollywood body” without having your life revolve around it? What if you didn't have to starve yourself, put in long hours at the gym, or do grueling cardio sessions that turn your stomach? What if you could eat all of the foods you actually like and do muscle-building workouts that you actually enjoy? Imagine waking up every morning, looking in the mirror, and feeling downright excited by your reflection. Imagine being able to proudly wear the clothes you really want to wear and take them off with confidence. Well, you can have all of these things, and it’s not nearly as difficult or complicated as you probably think. The Year One Challenge for Men is a workout journal companion to the bestselling men’s fitness book Bigger Leaner Stronger, and it contains a full year's worth of workouts neatly organized so you can record, track, and review your progress toward the body you've always wanted. With this program, you can add 15 to 25 pounds of lean muscle to your frame while also shedding handfuls of unwanted body fat and doubling or even tripling your whole-body strength. And that's just year one! So, if you're ready to build lean muscle and lose stubborn fat faster than you ever thought possible, scroll up, buy this journal today and start your journey to a bigger, leaner, and stronger you!

Men's Health Ultimate Dumbbell Guide: More Than 21,000 Moves Designed to Build Muscle, Increase Strength, and Burn Fat


Myatt Murphy - 2007
    In Men's Health Ultimate Dumbbell Guide, Myatt Murphy, a fitness expert and longtime contributor to Men's Health, shows readers how to use dumbbells to develop just about every part of their bodies.For anyone who believes that dumbbells can be used only for arms and shoulders, Myatt Murphy proves them wrong. Featuring 200 photographs, Men's Health Ultimate Dumbbell Exercises demonstrates how to perform a total body workout and get maximum results. There are exercises here—lunges, squats, dead lifts, curls, shrugs, kickbacks, presses, and more—that develop abs, arms, chest, legs, and shoulders, along with innovative new ways to get the most of this versatile piece of strength-training equipment.With instructions for creating literally thousands of dumbbell exercises for the novice to advanced lifter, Men's Health Ultimate Dumbbell Exercises will be an indispensable addition to any home gym.

Arnold: The Education of a Bodybuilder


Arnold Schwarzenegger - 1977
    Universe, seven-time Mr. Olympia, and Mr. World, Arnold Schwarzenegger is the name in bodybuilding. Here is his classic bestselling autobiography, which explains how the “Austrian Oak” came to the sport of bodybuilding and aspired to be the star he has become.I still remember that first visit to the bodybuilding gym. I had never seen anyone lifting weights before. Those guys were huge and brutal….The weight lifters shone with sweat; they were powerful looking, Herculean. And there it was before me—my life, the answer I'd been seeking. It clicked. It was something I suddenly just seemed to reach out and find, as if I'd been crossing a suspended bridge and finally stepped off onto solid ground. Arnold shares his fitness and training secrets—demonstrating with a comprehensive step-by-step program and dietary hints how to use bodybuilding for better health. His program includes a special four-day regimen of specific exercises to develop individual muscle groups—each exercise illustrated with photos of Arnold in action. For fans and would-be bodybuilders, this is Arnold in his own words.

C-Mass: Calisthenics Mass: How to Maximize Muscle Growth Using Bodyweight-Only Training


Paul Wade - 2014
    Legendary strongmen and savvy modern bodyweight bodybuilders both, have added stacks of righteous beef to their physique--using just the secrets Paul Wade reveals in this bible-like guide to getting as strong AND as big as you could possibly want, using nothing but your own body. Paul Wade’s trenchant, visceral style blazes with hard-won body culture insight, tactics, strategies and tips. C-Mass is the ultimate blueprint for getting huge naturally without free weights, machine supplements or--God forbid--steroids. With C-Mass, Paul Wade further cements his position as the preeminent modern authority on how to build extraordinary power and strength with bodyweight exercise only. CONTENTS: 1. Bodyweight Muscle? No Problem! 2. The Ten Commandments of Calisthenics Mass 3. “Coach” Wade’s Bodypart Tactics 4. Okay. Now Gimme a Program 5. Troubleshooting Muscle-Growth: The FAQ 6. The Democratic Alternative…How To Get As Powerful As Possible Without Gaining A Pound 7. BONUS CHAPTER: Supercharging Your Hormonal Profile Get the expert's guide to build phenomenal amounts of natural muscle mass and discover how to: • Add 20-30+ pounds of solid muscle to your frame--with perfect proportions • Reshape your arms with 2-3 inches of gnarly beef • Triple the size of your pecs and lats • Thicken and harden your abdominal wall into a classic six-pack • Throw a thick, healthy vein onto your biceps • Generate hard, sculpted quads and hamstrings that would be the envy of an Olympic sprinter • Build true “diamond” calves • Stand head and shoulders above the next 99% of natural bodybuilders in looks, strength and power • Boost your testosterone naturally to bull-like levels

High-Intensity Training the Mike Mentzer Way


Mike Mentzer - 2002
    Universe competitionThis one-of-a-kind book profiles the high-intensity training (HIT) techniques pioneered by the late Mike Mentzer, the legendary bodybuilder, leading trainer, and renowned bodybuilding consultant. His highly effective, proven approach enables bodybuilders to get results--and win competitions--by doing shorter, less frequent workouts each week. Extremely time-efficient, HIT sessions require roughly 40 minutes per week of training--as compared with the lengthy workout sessions many bodybuilders would expect to put in daily.In addition to sharing Mentzer's workout and training techniques, featured here is fascinating biographical information and striking photos of the world-class bodybuilder--taken by noted professional bodybuilding photographers--that will inspire and instruct serious bodybuilders and weight lifters everywhere.

Zen Mind, Strong Body: How To Cultivate Advanced Calisthenic Strength--Using The Power Of "Beginner's Mind"


Al Kavadlo - 2015
    It’s also a philosophy that’s allowed Al to sculpt a magnificent physique—while maintaining an ever-burning passion to further develop his calisthenic excellence.Al’s “secret sauce”? A Zen-like attitude to physical cultivation—which marries intense focus with a light-hearted “joy-in-the-journey.” Zen-like too, is Al’s insistence on intuitive simplicity and his celebration of personal, direct experience as the most trustworthy teacher.Zen Mind, Strong Body culls 26 of Al’s favorite articles, elaborating his position on a wide spectrum of fitness subjects from diet and supplements, to machines and free weights, to cardio options, to mental training. For Al, though, all roads finally lead to Bodyweight Exercise—as the supreme path for all-around, everyday athleticism and practical functionality.Want what Al Kavadlo has? Absorb the hard-earned, earthy training wisdom in Zen Mind, Strong Body—and you will be on your way.Discover:•How to put the fun back into your fitness—instead of treating your workouts as a chore…•How to combine “presence” and joy—for a deeper, more rewarding training experience…•How “light heart” translates to “heavy payload”—when it comes to spectacular, long-term physical gains…•How to infuse “warrior spirit” into your body-mind—and attain the calisthenic ideal of physical excellence…•How to recruit the power of the “Big 3”—Experience, Logic and Intuition—as your preferred allies in the battle against weakness, fatness, slowness and tiredness…•Why to beware of the “Tricky 3”—Dogma, Faith and Science”—when it comes to wise practice in diet and exercise…•The empowering secret of “open-ended” program design—to free you from the shackles and restrictions of one-size-fits-all fitness shibboleths…•The key differences between gymnastics and calisthenics—when considering your optimal goals for physical development…•How to make impressive gains year-after-year—while staying off the “injured reserve” list…•How to marry fun and function—for athletic longevity and enhanced well being…•How to use your mind to manifest what you choose—including the body of your dreams...•The “Specificity Principle”—and the direct approach to getting better and better and better…•The hows and whys of building strength without mass—when whipcord-functionality is your goal…•The #1 factor to consider in practicing strength as a skill—it’s the difference between longterm success and the also-rans…•What “business” you need to focus on first—if being a lean ‘n mean machine is what you want…•Why “subtle nuance” can be more important than “gross motor”—when developing supreme movement skills…•The 5 major levels of bodyweight strength—so you know where you stand in the chain of greatness…•The 4 best bodyweight drills to emulate the benefits of the traditional deadlift—when you don’t want to bother with a barbell…•The

Gift of Injury: The Strength Athlete’s Guide to Recovering from Back Injury to Winning Again


Stuart McGill - 2018
    Anyone who trains will enhance their injury resilience and performance employing these principles proven over and over with athletes. In the highly competitive world of strength athletics, a back injury is seen by many as the ultimate career-ender. In truth, if handled properly, it is far from a death sentence. Follow the journey of international powerlifting champion Brian Carroll, who can attest to this first hand. This remarkable athlete went from 1100 lb squats and 800 lb deadlifts to unending pain and disability after a massive spinal compression injury. After a fortuitous meeting with leading back expert Professor Stuart McGill, he reset his training and his life to fight his way back to the top of the winner’s podium. Glean expertise from McGill and Carroll, both masters in their field, and learn how to orchestrate your own triumphant comeback. Whether you are a former champion yourself who has fallen on hard times, or someone starting a new foray into the world of strength training who wants to avoid injury and maximize training, the wisdom found within these pages is sure to take your resilience and lifts to the next level. Over 200 full color, rich illustrations demonstrate technique.